Cooling systems of vehicle engines



June 24, 1958 L. J. PERAS 2,840,061

CQOLING SYSTEMS OF VEHICLE ENGINES Filed July 7. 1954 17:2 M, Ma u of the cooling system in case of United States Patent 2,840,061 Y COOLING SYSTEMS OF VEHICLE ENGINES Billancourt, France, assignor to Regie Renault, Billancourt, France.

Lucien Jules Pras,

Nationale des Usines This invention relates to the cooling systems of vehicle engines, and has particular reference to improvements in the design of these systems.

As a rule, in liquid-cooled vehicle engines, the radiator is filled through a pipe located at the top of the header tank of the radiator. On the other hand, this header tank is connected through a separate pipe to the cylinder-head of the engine to be cooled.

Thus, this conventional design requires two pipe fittings on the header tank of the radiator, which constitute an additional source of leaks and an increase in cost.

It is the chief object of this invention to dispense with the pipe for filling up the header tank of the radiator and to provide means for effecting this filling up of the radiator through the usually flexible connecting pipe provided between the radiator and the cylinder-head.

According to a modified embodiment of the invention, the filling up is carried out through theflexible connecting pipe provided between the bottom tank of the radiator and the cylinder block.

The attached drawing forming part of this specification illustrates diagrammatically, by way of example, two forms of embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view showing a conventional radiator assembly with the filling plug and the flexible pipes connecting the radiator to the engine;

Figure 2 shows the same radiator but incorporating the filling-pipe arrangement in accordance with the teachings of this invention; and

Figure 3 is a modified embodiment wherein the fillingpipe is mounted on the lower flexible pipe between the engine and the bottom tank of the radiator.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, the filling plug is fitted in the conventional manner on the upper pipe 1 hardsoldered on the header tank 2 of the radiator; the other pipes 3, 4 enable the cooling fluid to circulate between the engine and radiator, as usual. This pipe arrangement is currently found in most water-cooled vehicles of any design.

Figure 2 shows the upper pipe 3 modified in accordance with the teachings of this invention. A branch pipe 5 extending upwards above the vertical portion 3a of pipe 3 constitutes an extension of this portion and terminates with a threaded end 6 adapted to receive a detachable plug 7 in fluid-tight engagement therewith; this plug 7 is provided with any external projections adapted to afford a firm grip for tightly closing it. It is also possible to use the bayonet fastening currently employed in automobile construction, or any other suitable system.

The height of'pipe 5 in Figure 2 is sutficient to permit a complete filling up of the header tank 2.- The upper portion or top wall of this header tank must conveniently be level with the two-thirds or the middle of the section of the pipe portion 3b so that no air can be trapped in this header tank and interfere with the proper operation expansion or emulsion occurring in the system.

2,840,061 Patented June In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, thefilling pipe s extends from an intermediate point of thejpipeiconne ct' ing the radiator to the cylinder block for allowing flow of cooled water from radiator to engine.

In this embodiment, the same care is taken to avoid forming air locks or pockets and a vent 10 is provided at the uppermost point of the header tank for venting the air during the filling. This vent 10 is also provided in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2.

The height of pipe 8 is suflicient to alford a complete filling of the header tank according to the principle of communicating vessels.

The invention is applicable to both thermo-syphon cooling systems and pump-circulation systems wherein the cooling properties of water steam and water beyond normal boiling point are currently utilized. In this last instance, the vent 10 is provided with a valve to prevent the water from escaping from the cooling system, in the case of Figure 2.

Of course, the embodiments described hereinabove and illustrated diagrammatically in the attached drawing are merely illustrative of the manner in which the invention may be carried out in the practice, for many modifications and alterations may be brought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines of the type having a radiator with a body portion, a header tank at the top of said body portion and a bottom tank at the bottom of said body portion, in combination, a first pipe connecting said header tank to the engine cylinder head and a second pipe connecting said bottom tank to the engine cylinder block, a filling pipe in fluid communicating relationship at its lower end with said second pipe and extending upwardly therefrom exteriorly of said header tank to a level above the uppermost portion of the interior of the header tank but out of communication therewith whereby said header tank communicates directly only with said body portion and said first pipe, a vent orifice in said uppermost interior portion of said header tank, and a relief valve in said vent orifice.

2. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines 7 of the type having ,a radiator with a body portion, a

- header tank at the top of said body portion and a'bottom tank at the bottom of said body portion, in combination, a first pipe connecting said header tank to the engine cylinder head and a second pipe connecting said bottom tank to the engine cylinder block, a filling pipe in fluid communicating relationship at its lower end with said second pipe at a point intermediate the ends of said second pipe, said filling pipe extending upwardly therefrom exteriorly of said header tank to a level above the uppermost portion of the interior of the header tank but out of communication therewith whereby said header tank cornmunicates directly only with said body portion and said first pipe, end of said filling pipe, a vent orifice in said uppermost interior portion of said header tank, and a relief valve in said vent orifice.

3. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines of the type having a radiator with a body portion, a header tank at the top of said body portion and a bottom tank at the bottom of said body portion, in combination, a first pipe connecting said header tank to the engine cylinder head and a second pipe connecting said bottom tank to the engine cylinder block, a filling pipe in fluid communicating relationship at its lower end with said second pipe at a point adjacent said a detachable filling cap for closing the uPP6r block, said filling gipe egg teqciing upyveydly therefrqm exteriorly of said References Cited in the file of this patent header tank to a level above the uppermost p rtidn of the UNITED STATES PATENTS interior of the header tankjbut'out of communication 1 thegewitkyhepebyseid header tank -cpmm imicates, di- 1,378,070 welge May 1921 reetlybnly-with said body portioniland 'said first pip'e,ra 5 1,646,070 Smlth 1927 yent orificein s aid. uppermost interior portion of said 2,286,398 Young June 1942 header tank a relief valve'inlsaid vent cirifice. 21523242 Yiedt P 19, 1950 

